Russian Lawmaker Demands Return of Alaska

[Archivist]

A Russian lawmaker has demanded that the US return Alaska, along with a former Russian fort in California to Russia. The lawmaker claims that the return is required because of anti-Russian sanctions the US has adopted. The United States purchased land in 1867 for $7.2 million.

Alaska Governor Dunleavy has told the Russians “good luck with that.”

Lawmakers reject Russian official's request to return Alaska: 'Never, ever, ever'

 

[HTacianas]

A Russian lawmaker has demanded that the US return Alaska, along with a former Russian fort in California to Russia. The lawmaker claims that the return is required because of anti-Russian sanctions the US has adopted. The United States purchased land in 1867 for $7.2 million.

Alaska Governor Dunleavy has told the Russians “good luck with that.”

Lawmakers reject Russian official's request to return Alaska: 'Never, ever, ever'

Under Trump we were going to buy Greenland. Under Biden we have to give away Alaska.

 

[Pavel Mosko]

Yeah like that is going to happen, and as if Russia desperately needs more land!

Kind of funny I recently watched a PBS documentary on YouTube made years before all this drama that spoke of the country and what it is like living in places that are not in the big cities. Lots of people get their food and cost of living heavily subsidized because they are living out in the boondocks, and the government has been doing that for going back a few centuries under the Czar maintaining it's long rail ways over these barren largely unpopulated regions. Basically they have been hanging onto a lot of unprofitable real estate that largely costs them money gambling that over time it is going to be profitable, or have strategic resources etc.

 

[Archivist]

Under Trump we were going to buy Greenland. Under Biden we have to give away Alaska.

We aren’t going to give Alaska away.

 

[Homeowner]

what it is like living in places that are not in the big cities, lots of people get their food and cost of living heavily subsidized because they are living out in the boondocks, and the government has been doing that for going back a few centuries under the Czar maintaining it's long rail ways over these barren largely unpopulated regions. Basically they have been hanging onto a lot of unprofitable real estate that largely costs them money gambling that over time it is going to be profitable, or have strategic resources etc.

Imagine if they had managed that with population to match that land area with some smarter form of governance. All the resources they have now. Added Alaska to that. With climate change finally making all that land usable. Arctic ice retreating. It would be pretty incredible.

 

[BobRyan]

A Russian lawmaker has demanded that the US return Alaska, along with a former Russian fort in California to Russia. The lawmaker claims that the return is required because of anti-Russian sanctions the US has adopted. The United States purchased land in 1867 for $7.2 million.

interesting - what "law" is the lawyer appealing to that would state such a thing???

 

[Archivist]

interesting - what "law" is the lawyer appealing to that would state such a thing???

The Russian official has nothing upon which to base such a claim.

 

[Till Schilling]

In this song these Russian musicians mention Alaska as a part of their beloved motherland. Holy, indivisible Russia, given them by God from above, so very close to their heart.

Considering what the Russian army is at this moment doing to other lands mentioned in their song as being close to their heart I would be quite worried lived I in Alaska. Seems the love is only for the land, not the people who live on it.

 

[Sparagmos]

Under Trump we were going to buy Greenland. Under Biden we have to give away Alaska.

We were? We do?

 

[Akita Suggagaki]

Sarah Palin goes with the deal.

 

[Ignatius the Kiwi]

I respect the bravado if nothing else. Though since Russia sold it to the US they don't have much of a claim to Alaska. It's like if the French or Spanish were to claim the territory of colonial Lousiana.

 

[Skye1300]

That's crazy. What has sanctions got to do with that when we bought Alaska fair and square? LOL

 

[Homeowner]

Though since Russia sold it to the US they don't have much of a claim to Alaska.

If it had been sold to Luxembourg the VDV (Russian airborne troops) would already be descending. Russia doesn't care about rational claims. They respect strength and that's about it. Otherwise they are totally willing to lie, cheat, steal and to give conflicting reasoning for whatever current necessities they deem to be feasible.

Like funny how Crimea got a poll (fake one naturally) of joining Russia because Russia has such a respect for self determination of people. Surprisingly Chechen's didn't get to vote but at least Russians got enough of bloody nose to make song of it.

Russia claims most of Ukraine on historical grounds but when China noted Vladivostok was once part of China that is clearly not sufficient reason to give it to them. Ad infinitum.

 

[Ignatius the Kiwi]

If it had been sold to Luxembourg the VDV (Russian airborne troops) would already be descending. Russia doesn't care about rational claims. They respect strength and that's about it. Otherwise they are totally willing to lie, cheat, steal and to give conflicting reasoning for whatever current necessities they deem to be feasible.

.

Most nations are willing to lie and cheat to keep it's territorial borders or expand it's influence. In that respect I see little difference Russia and the USA.

 

[Homeowner]

Most nations are willing to lie and cheat to keep it's territorial borders or expand it's influence. In that respect I see little difference Russia and the USA.

Democracies have certain safety features that autocracies like Russia do not have which usually alleviate some excesses that can occur. Granted the difference is not absolute but it is there.

 

[Archivist]

Most nations are willing to lie and cheat to keep it's territorial borders or expand it's influence. In that respect I see little difference Russia and the USA.

The US granted independence to the Philippines after World War II. Puerto Rico has had the opportunity to vote on independence but has not approved it.

 

[Till Schilling]

Democracies have certain safety features that autocracies like Russia do not have which usually alleviate some excesses that can occur. Granted the difference is not absolute but it is there.

The difference isn’t really between democracies and authoritarian regimes/monarchys but between imperialist countries and those that have given up on imperialism. The UK and France are responsible for some vile crimes against humanity in their colonies. In the 20th century. Notwithstanding their being democracies at home.

 

[Till Schilling]

The US granted independence to the Philippines after World War II. Puerto Rico has had the opportunity to vote on independence but has not approved it.

True. De iure the US is not an imperialist country. But it has used violence to change other countries. Most notably quite recently under President Bush. It is a kind of ideological imperialism. Just as deadly unfortunately.

 

[Ignatius the Kiwi]

The US granted independence to the Philippines after World War II. Puerto Rico has had the opportunity to vote on independence but has not approved it.

The US invaded the Philippines when it declared itself independent of Spanish rule and forced it under it's jurisdiction in the first place. It would not have needed to grant independence if it hadn't invaded in the first place. The Philippines, as you well know, is not the only unjustified US war or annexation. Lest we think there was any real justification to annex Hawaii or invade the Middle East in the crusade for Democracy.

Democracies have certain safety features that autocracies like Russia do not have which usually alleviate some excesses that can occur. Granted the difference is not absolute but it is there.

Democracies and autocracies are different for sure. Both have strengths and weaknesses and I've seen little in the Democratic way of running countries historically that makes them morally superior to other forms of government. The US has lied on multiple occasions to justify it's military incursions into areas of the world it really had no place being and it being a democracy has not prevented the lie. If anything it's made it more duplicitous since blame can never be attributed to a single party.

 

[Homeowner]

I've seen little in the Democratic way of running countries historically that makes them morally superior to other forms of government

It is not that they are a morally superior form of government, it is the fact that those governments can be democratically gotten rid of by means of general elections.